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Objective(s): The aims of this study were to analyze patterns of recurrence in patients with ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCA) and to evaluate the role of pelvic radiotherapy (RT)., Methods and Materials: All patients with ovarian CCA treated at a single institution between 1989 and 2012 were identified, and their medical records were reviewed. Eligibility criteria included histologic diagnosis of pure CCA of the ovary, surgical staging for International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I-to-IIIC disease, and adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Selected end points were 3-, 5-, and 8-year cumulative incidence of pelvic recurrence (CIPR)., Results: Fifty-six patients met eligibility criteria. Most received intravenous carboplatin and paclitaxel for a median of 6 cycles. Six patients (10.7%) received pelvic RT, and 50 (89.3%) did not. Pelvic RT patients had stage I-to-IIC disease. Median follow-up was 39 months (range, 1-69 months). For the group as a whole, 14 patients (25%) had initial disease recurrence involving the pelvis, whereas 6 (10.7%) had first recurrence outside the pelvis. Three-, 5- and 8-year CIPR were 28.2%, 38.5%, and 43.2%, respectively. There was no significant difference in 3-, 5-, or 8-year CIPR between the group of patients receiving RT (20%, 20%, and 20%) and a group of patients with stages I to IIC who did not receive RT (9.9%, 22.4%, and 30.2%), P = 0.22. During RT, patients developed mild grade 1-to-2 side effects. After RT, 1 patient developed lower extremity lymphedema with recurrent cellulitis. One patient who developed small bowel obstruction before RT developed small bowel radiation enteritis and obstruction after RT, ultimately requiring surgical intervention., Conclusions: These findings suggest that ovarian CCA exhibits a propensity for pelvic recurrence after surgery and chemotherapy. RT, a local treatment that can effectively sterilize microscopic tumor cells, may benefit patients with this disease. Prospective studies with sufficient statistical power are warranted to further evaluate the role of RT.

Background: Brachytherapy is an integral component of the curative treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer. Optimal applicator placement is associated with improvements in local control and treatment-related toxicity. Uterine perforation by the tandem is common and often undetected by orthogonal radiographs. The role of ultrasound in guiding tandem placement remains controversial., Methods: A 55-year-old woman with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IIB cervix cancer underwent placement of a Fletcher-Suit-Delcos tandem and ovoids applicator. Postoperative computed tomography was used for treatment planning., Results: The applicator appeared to be appropriately placed on clinical exam and orthogonal radiographs. Postoperative computed tomography revealed the tandem had perforated the anterior uterine wall. In a second procedure, the tandem was placed correctly under intraoperative ultrasonography., Conclusions: A review of the literature finds a relatively high rate of uterine perforation of the uterus that is undetected by orthogonal radiographs or clinical examination. Multiple reports support the use of real-time ultrasound for patients with especially challenging anatomy. As this report illustrates, uterine perforation is possible in any patient. Therefore, routine real-time ultrasonography should be considered for all uterine tandem insertions.